| 释义 |
verbally, adv.|ˈvɜːbəlɪ|
[f. verbal a. + -ly2.]
1. Word for word; in respect of each word.
1588W. Lambarde Eiren. iv. v. 502 It is not of necessitie, that the Statute be verbally rehearsed, but only that the offence against the Statute be sufficiently and with full words described. 1680Dryden Pref. Ovid's Ep. Ess. (Ker) I. 238 'Tis almost impossible to translate verbally, and well, at the same time. 1841Myers Cath. Th. iii. §8. 29 To make them..such a record of Divine utterances as to be throughout verbally and literally true. 1864Froude Short Stud. (1867) I. 245 If all three agreed verbally, we should feel certain it was more than accident. 1883A. Roberts O.T. Revision ix. 198 They could not but verbally agree in the reports which they furnished of His addresses.
2. In or with (mere) words, without accompanying action or reality.
1610Healey St. Aug. Citie of God 573 This passion of Christ, the reprobate preach verballie onely. 1640Bp. Hall Episc. iii. §8. 257 Would God I might not say, even the Lords Anointed, whom they verbally professe to honour. 1678Cudworth Intell. Syst. 55 Some of the Pagans.., though they Verbally acknowledged a Deity, yet supposed a certain Fate superiour to it.
b. So far as words (only) are concerned.
1855–6T. T. Lynch Lett. Scattered (1872) 572 It is vain to be verbally right, if we are not livingly real. 1862Spencer First Princ. i. ii. §11 (1875) 35 Thus these three different suppositions.., verbally intelligible though they are,..turn out..to be literally unthinkable. 1908W. M. Ramsay Luke Physician viii. 251 You can with sufficient ingenuity always explain—verbally—any thing out of anything.
3. In actual words; by means of words or speech.
1646W. Jenkyn Remora 12 They said not so verbally, but mentally and practically. 1650Bp. Hall Cases Consc. (ed. 2) Addit. 402 Justly supposing, there may be as strong a prohibition in a sense implyed, as verbally expressed. a1691Boyle Hist. Air (1692) 55 Nature..has furnished men with sensories capable of distinctly perceiving a far greater variety of objects, than they are able verbally to express. 1796F. Burney Camilla II. 395 But, till then, here he will stay..till you have deigned to pronounce verbally his doom. 1840Dickens Old C. Shop xxxi, She verbally fell upon and maltreated her.
b. In speech, as contrasted with writing.
1637–50Row Hist. Kirk (Wodrow Soc.) 503 Then, after long reasoning and protesting,..the King's Commissioner arose, dischargeing the Assemblie verballie. 1673Essex Papers (Camden) I. 70 My humble advice..is to content your selfe with what his Ma[jes]ty has verbally been pleased to declare in this matter. 1761Hume Hist. Eng. II. xxxvi. 292 It was universally said that the Emperor..would verbally agree to any terms. 1782F. Burney Cecilia vii. vii, Give me but the commission, either verbally or in writing. 1817W. Selwyn Law Nisi Prius (ed. 4) II. 793 It was verbally agreed between plaintiff, defendant, and J. S. that the defendant..should pay the amount. 1864Lincoln in E. McPherson Hist. U.S. Rebell. (1864) 336 You ask me to put in writing the substance of what I verbally said the other day in your presence. 1878S. Walpole Hist. Eng. II. 675 The King was verbally assured..that at least fifty fresh peerages would be required.
4. With the function of a verb.
1875Whitney Life Lang. xii. 233 The verbally used [Scythian] forms are, rather, but one step removed from nouns used predicatively. |